Accelerometer



E. BACH ACGELEROMETER Dec. l2, 1939.

` Filed oct. 2, 1956 A ORNEY Patented Dec.-l2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,163,002 AocELEaoM'ETER Emmon Bach, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to National Aviation Research Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 2, '1936, Serial No. 103,628 4 claims. (ci. zeri-11i' corded, or with which it is desired to effect some control.

Other objects ofthe invention and the novel features by which all objects are attained are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specification. l

The drawing accompanying and forming part I of the specification illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that the structure, arrangement and use of the invention may all be varied within the true spirit and broad scope ofthe invention as hereinafter set forth and broadly covered in the claims.

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view-of an embodiment of the invention designed and in use as an accelerometer.

p Figure 2 is a broken central sectional View of the same on a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a similar broken sectional view in va different vertical plane.

Figure 4 is a broken horizontal cross sectional 5 view on substantially the plane of line 4 -4 of Figure 2.

In the form of the invention disclosed, as illustrated in Figures l to 4where the forces to be determined may be of opposite sign, the device is y constructed with two flexible diaphragms 1, 8

connected by a rod 9, carryinga pis'ton valve i0" operating in a valve sleeve I'I.

These two diaphragms are weighted in the il lustration, each by discs I2, I3 at opposite faces of the same, secured together over the diaphragm by through screws I4 and the connecting -rod is shown as secured to the weighted diaphragms by having screw engagement at I5 at its opposite ends in hub portions I6 of the outer discs pro- [i jecting through corresponding openings Il in the diaphragms and inner discs. These, however, are simply convenient, practical ways of properly securing these parts together.

The valve I0 should be free to slide in the valve 5 sleeve without any binding or cramping action from the diaphragms or the intervening connect- 4 ing rod 9. i For this reason said valve is shown formed as a sleeve loosely surrounding the rod 9 and having its opposite ends in contacting but not clamped engagement with the opposing inner ends of the hub portions I6.

In the form of the invention under consideration, suction is employed as the force for establishing the balance of the instrument and the source of such, suction is indicated as a venturi I8, connected by tube I9 with an intermediate portion of the instrument body 20, between the diaphragm. Actually, as shown in Figure 2, the

suction line connects with an annular chamber 2| surrounding the central portion of the valve sleeve II and the latter iss-hewn as having ports 22, 23 controlled by the intermediate annular shouldered portion 24 of the valve. Above and below this valve shoulder the valve body is reduced in diameter 4to provide annular chambers 25, 26, connecting by sleeve ports 21, 28 with surrounding annular chambers 29, 30. The valve body is shown as having upper andlower vvalve heads 3|, 32 controlling these upper and lowerw ports. v

Figures 3 and 4 show how air is admitted through a suitable filter 33 toa passage 34' ported at 35, 36 to provide .communication with the upper and lower annular chambers 29, 30 and opening at opposite ends to the chambers 3l, 38

at the inner sides of the diaphragms. This construction thus equalizes pressure on the inside faces of the diaphragms as well as providing iiow to the chambers 29, 30 at opposite ends of the valve.

The outer faces of the' diaphragms are subjected to suction through passages 39, 40,'Figure 2, extending from the .outer diaphragm chambers 4I, 42 to the sleeve ports 43, 44, opening to the valve clearance spaces 25, 2B.

From passages 39, 40, tubes 45, 46 are shown extended tothe opposite sides of the diierential pressure gage 41 and the latter is 'indicated as having a pointer 4B reading .on Minus G andv of gravity of the ship and with its axis, as repretion in which the forces are to be measured. /So

mounted and connected as illustrated, suction created by the venturi will cause air to be drawn in through the filter 33 into the end channels or chambers 29, 30 and through ports 21, 28, where it is throttled by the upper and lower valve heads 3l, 32 into the valve chambers 25, 26, and then through ports 22, 23 where it is again throttled by the intermediate valve head 24 into suction chamber 2l.

Under static conditions the weights I2, I3 will depress the diaphragms, causing the latter to shift the valve downwardly, producing closure or partial closure of ports 21 and 23 and the opening of ports 28 and 22. This unbalances pressure in the annular valve chambers 25 and 26, causing chamber 25 to approach suction pressure and chamber 26 to approach atmospheric pressure. Suction is thus applied to the upper face of the upper diaphragm through passage 39 to a greater extent than to the lower diaphragm and sufficient to sustain the combined weight, with the valve approximately in the intermediate balanced position illustrated in Figure 2. This unbalanced pressure in pounds per square inch times the eiective diaphragm area equals the weight and may be so recorded by the differential gage or the latter' may be compensated so as to show a zero reading.

Any increased weight on the diaphragms, applied physically or through acceleration forces will cause a shifting of the pilot valve to create a differential pressure in lines 451-46, proportional to the applied force. This compensating pressure admitted to the diaphragm chambers ylll and 42 opposes and limits movement of the valve, acting in eiect as a restoring force. The extent of such restoring force will be directly shown by the differential gage which through the lines 45, 46 is subjected to the same unbalancng and restoring forces. Negative forces will cause unbalance in the opposite direction and consequent actuation of the gage in the reverse direction. The latter, it will be appreciated, may be of the plain indicating or the recording type and should be compensated for acceleration forces.

The device may so be considered as a small differential pressure regulator responding to varying forces and through the medium of the gage or indicator providing accurate'knowledgeof the value of such forces.

With the double diaphragm construction, the diaphragms are under stress always in the same direction and an insensitive zero point is thus avoided. Stung boxes and Lrrors consequent therefrom through friction, etc., are entirely eliminated. Both positive and negative values of G are obtained.

For measurement of weights which are always positive or for dierential pressures which are always of the same sign, only one set of ports is needed and the values may be read on a vacuum gage with atmospheric pressure as the base level.

Compressed air or equivalent may be employed, with slight modications, in place of suction.'

The instrument is instantly responsive, particularly sensitive and accurately indicates the desired values or effects the desired controls. The dia-phragms when subjected to the force which is to be measured, immediately react to create a compensating pressure, which is directly indicatedr or recorded on the gage or indicator or is utilized to eiect a desired control. -The gage,

indicator or controller may be remotely or closely connected with the instrument so that the invention is well suited for remote indicating or control purposes. As shown, the diaphragms and all moving parts may be completely enclosed.

The structure may be modied and changed in various ways. The invention may be applied to many other uses than those mentioned. For example, the buoyancy of a partially submerged oat acting on the diaphragm stein may be used to provide information of liquid level without substantial movement of such a oat.

What is claimed is:

l. In an instrument of the character disclosed, the combination of opposed diaphragme, a rigid connection between the same, a self-centering valve piloted in self-adjusting relation on said rigid connection between said diaphragms and a casing enclosing said diaphragms and selfcentering valve, including chambers in which the diaphragms are located, a valve chamber between the diaphragm chambers in which said valve is self-adjusting, passages from said diaphragm chambers to said valve chamber controlled by said valve, a fluid pressure passage to the valve chamber also controlled by said valve and external connections to the respective passages, said diaphragm chamber passages extending from the outermost sides of the diaphragm to the intermediate Valve chamber and a pres sure balancing passage connecting the diaphragm chambers at the inner faces of the diaphragms.

2. In an instrument of the character disclosed, the combination of opposed connected dia-l phragms, a valve interposed between and actuated? from said diaphragms, a .casing enclosing said diaphragms and valve, including chambers in which said diaphragms are located, a valve chamber between said diaphragm chambers in which said valve operates, passages between said valve chamber and the individual-diaphragm chambers controlled by said valve, passages between the outside air and said rst mentioned diaphragm passages and controlled by said valve in reverse order to the control exercised by said valve over said first mentioned passages, a fluid pressure passage to said valve chamber and external differential pressure connections extending from said first mentioned diaphragm passages.

3. An accelerometer, comprising, an accelerometer casing disposed on a substantially vertical axis, substantially horizontally disposed weighted diaphragms in the upper and lower portions of said vertically arranged casing, a vertically extending connection between said diaphragms, a slide valve carried by said connection, an intermediate and two end valve chambers controlled by said slide valve, a venturi connected with said intermediate valve chamber, differential pressure connections extending from said end valve chambers, a dierential pressure instrument connected with and controlled bysaid dierential pressure connections, passages extending from said diierential pressure connections to said diaphragms and said casing having an air inlet to said end valve chambers controlled by said slide valve.

4. An accelerometer, comprising, an acceler-` ometer casing mountedv on a substantially ver-l tical axis, substantially horizontal weiglzcd diaphragms in the upper and lower end portio s said casing, a connection between said diaphragms, a slide valve carried by said connection, an intermediate and two end valve cham'- bers controlled'byl said slide valve, means connected 'with said intermediate valve chamber tor supplying an actuating pressure force, a diiIeren-.

instrument, differential' pressure l tial pressure connections from said end valve chambers to said diierential pressure instrument and diierential pressure passagesextending from said valve controlled pressure Vconnections to said diaphragms respectively.

EMMON BACH. 

